Martinez had major shoulder surgery Oct. 5. He returned after four rehabilitation appearances in the minors, leaving some questions about his readiness.

The Mets put him on a 75-pitch limit that left him no margin for error to get through five innings and get a win.

Martinez threw 76 pitches while limiting the Reds to three runs and five hits in five innings. Four of his pitches came on an intentional walk. With two runners aboard in the fifth, Martinez got Adam Dunn — the last batter he was going to face — to hit into a rally-killing groundout.

Then, he pumped his fist.

"Indescribable," the three-time Cy Young winner said. "So far, so good. It was good enough. I did what I was supposed to do. I got 75 pitches in. I gave my team an opportunity. I felt I settled down after the first inning and got everything in control again."

Even though the Reds didn't do much against Martinez, they could see he had a long way to go.

"He didn't look like he had his old stuff, and I wouldn't expect him to," said Scott Hatteberg, who was his 2,999th strikeout victim. "He has a long way to go to get back to his old stuff. He had just electric stuff ... He may get there, but he isn't close now. It's obvious he knows how to pitch."

Martinez fanned Aaron Harang in the second inning to become the 15th pitcher with 3,000 career strikeouts.

In other games

• Padres 10, Diamondbacks 2 — Greg Maddux broke his slump in the desert as San Diego took a one-game lead in the West by ripping Arizona in Phoenix.

Maddux extended his streak without a walk to 49 1/3 innings in winning for the first time in Phoenix in seven decisions.

• Nationals 6, Marlins 1 — Jason Bergmann struck out nine in seven innings and Austin Kearns went 3-for-4 as Washington beat Florida at RFK Stadium as the Nationals moved one game ahead of Florida in the standings.